Our Love Story: Part 4

Summer was drawing to a close. Lee and I had discussed marriage many times and we had a plan for our future together. However, I was getting a little worried…will he ever pop the question? I went back to school for my senior year at Troy. Then, a few weeks later was a holiday-Labor Day. Lee and I decided to go to Orange Park to visit his family during this holiday weekend.

Lee told me that on Saturday he was going to take me around Jacksonville. This is something that I had complained that we had never done. So, he wakes me up bright and early Saturday morning. As I get ready, he keeps asking me if I’m bringing my camera. As soon as we get in the truck (and he checks that I have my camera), he gives me a new 4GB memory card.

Our first stop is a park along the river. We walk around and take pictures. Then, we drive into town. We see that there’s an art festival going on where people have set up booths to sell things-like Harvest Day in a big city. I told Lee I wanted to stop there and he said we would go by there later. First, we were going to an art museum. When we entered the art museum, Lee paid the fee and the lady told us that we may want to check out the gardens first before it gets too hot. So, I told Lee we should head to the gardens. He insists that we should look around inside first. So, I begin looking around inside. While I’m looking at each piece and trying to appreciate it, Lee is zooming around the room and is ready to go to the next one. Eventually, we make it to the door for the gardens. These gardens are gorgeous. It’s right on the St. John’s River. I have a new huge memory card so I’m busy taking tons of pictures. As we walk, Lee asks me which direction I want to go in and where I want to sit. I choose a bench by the river and he begins to tell me about one of the sermons he preached in the prison.



He tells me he preached about love. Then, he tells me that he told them a story. All of this is very blurry about what he actually said. Anyway, he ends up down on one knee asking me to be his wife. I say yes and he puts the ring on my finger. It’s exactly what I wanted a solitaire, round Leo diamond- something simple and timeless. We take many more pictures and I’m so excited and giggly.

After we left the museum, I called my mom and my meemaw. Then, we met up with his family for lunch. Later that day, I called and texted my friends with the good news.

I later found out that Lee bought my ring before he even told me he loved me! He called Kay Jewlers all over Alabama, Florida, and Georgia trying to find the best ring at the best price. He finally found one in Middleburg, FL. So, on a Wednesday night, he made a 10 hour round trip from Graceville to Middleburg and back to buy me a ring. He bought the ring on November 12, 2008 and proposed on September 5, 2009.





After the proposal, the madness began. I was finishing up my last year of college and doing my student teaching. On top of this, I was planning the wedding and planning for a move to North Carolina. Along with this, I was looking for a job.

As the wedding date moved closer, it felt like we saw each other less and less. If we did see each other, it was usually to do something wedding related. If we were talking on the phone, we were talking about something wedding related.

The night of the rehearsal dinner, Lee surprised me again. This time it was with a scrapbook. This scrapbook contained pictures, receipts, tickets, napkins, programs, etc. from all our dates. It also contained a letter that I read that night before I went to bed.



On July 17, 2010, we got married. This day is also somewhat of a blur. That night, I had a surprise of my own. I had saved that letter that I wrote during the early morning hours of January 1, 2007. The letter was for my future husband. (If you’re not sure what I’m talking about read: Our Love Story Part 1)

I know that God planned out our love story for us. The very day that I completely surrendered my love life over to God, He brings my future husband into my life. He also gave us the wisdom to realized that if our love was going to last, it had to be more than a feeling. Feelings are great, but they come and go. Love has to be a decision. Every morning, you have to wake up and choose to love another person more than yourself. You have to accept the good and bad about that person. You have to accept that you can’t change that person. If there’s something you don’t like about them now, don’t think it will change when you get married. It will probably get worse. You can’t be selfish when you love your spouse. You can’t just say “I love you” and never act on it. Love is a verb. It takes action. This kind of love is hard and it takes work, but it’s the only kind that will outlast all the hard times.

Our marriage has had its hard times already. Moving away from home, family, friends, and the only life I’ve ever known has been hard. Being a minister’s wife has been hard. Working a full time job, keeping a house clean, fixing supper, and doing some things for myself (like working out, Bible study, crafts, etc.) has been hard. It’s not going to get any easier, but I do it all because I love my husband with a love that is more than a feeling.

On a happier note, marriage isn’t always hard. We’ve had fun times too.

This is just part 4 of our love story. It’s not the final chapter. We have so many chapters that have yet to be written. I look forward to what our future together holds and I’m glad to know that the pen is in God’s hands.

1 John 3:16-18 (New International Version, ©2010)

16 This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.

Our Love Story: Part 3

After we started “going out,” we did a lot of fun stuff.

Jan. 2007: Lee had already been asked to be a small group leader at FBC Headland for a Disciple Now weekend before we started dating. This worked out well because it allowed him to get to know some of the people I went to church with and a few of my best friends were still in the youth group.


Feb. 2007: Lee cooked his “famous” lasagna for me on Valentine’s Day. We had a romantic candlelight dinner complete with a space heater because his apartment had no heat. We also visited the Montgomery Zoo with some of my friends and celebrated my 19th birthday with a taco dinner and night of bowling.


March 2007: Two of my friends and myself decide to go to the beach for a night during Spring Break. We used one of those hotel websites to find a place. One friend put the place on her credit card and we paid her for our parts. We get to the beach and the lady says we can’t check in because no one is over 25! Even though we already paid for it!! Luckily, Lee had just turned 25 the month before. So, being the awesome boyfriend he is, he came down to check us in. Then, we took him out for a $30 steak and shrimp meal. The next day Lee and I met up with my family and stayed the rest of the week at the beach.


Summer 2007: We saw lots of movies and ate at lots of restaurants. We went canoeing with Ashley and Graham. According to the boys, Ashley and I sunbathed while they did all the work. We also went to the beach again with my family and went to Ft. Rucker for the 4th of July.


August 2007: Lee attended his first TROY football game and it rained.


September 2007: We went to many more Troy games and Headland High School games. We also traveled to Gainesville to watch Florida play Troy. I got my hair cut shorter than Lee liked and I took him to Landmark Park for the first time. Then, we went back to my house where he got to shoot his guns.


October 2007: We tailgated for Troy’s homecoming and Lee fixed his yummy hamburgers.


November 2007: We watched the Iron Bowl at Jessica’s trailer. We also visited the Pioneer Museum in Troy, which I found very interesting.


December 2007: While visiting Lee’s family, we drove down to St. Augustine for a day. I also sang with my church choir in the Christmas musical “There is Peace in the World Tonight.” Our college ensemble at church also started singing together. I always loved when the college ensemble sang.


January 2008: We’ve been dating for 1 year! We drove to Montgomery where we visited some museums and of course, the Bass Pro Shop.


February 2008: Lee surprised me with a manicure for Valentine’s Day and he bought me my first Chi straightener for my birthday. We also made a random trip to Adventure Land for the batting cages and arcade with a group of friends. Then, a Krispy Kreme run afterwards.


March 2008: We celebrated Easter and I bought Lee an Easter card because he made the comment in Walmart once that he didn’t know the point of an Easter card. My Easter card told him he is somebunny special.


Summer 2008: We went to watch Courtney at prom lead out and at graduation. We went to the beach again. Pier Park had opened and we visited Ron Jon Surf Shop. Our Sunday School class had its skeet shoot event and Wesley had trouble trying to kill a ‘possum. Our SS teacher’s brother just picked the thing up by the tail. Of course, we also saw many more movies and went bowling a few times.


August 2008: We went camping at Oak Mountain State Park with Graham and Ashley. It was a relaxing weekend of fishing, hiking, and hanging out. Chelsey, Abbie, and Tyler came to visit us one night for hamburgers and one night we stayed up late playing Phase 10. Lee was also admitted to the ER for one of his stomach spells. These are no fun. This particular time, Dad and I took him and we stayed at the hospital until the wee hours of the morning.


September 2008 and October 2008: More Troy games! Go Trojans!


November 2008: Lee has a special surprise for me. We meet at the square and he’s sitting in the gazebo. I walk over to him and he begins to talk to me and read out of his Bible. Then, he pushes over to me a glass container with M&M’s inside. He tells me to look at them. I pick up an M&M and it says “Happy 22 months.” I said that was sweet and thank you. He just looks at me and looks at the M&M and then says pick up another one. The next one says “I Love U Megan.” Then, he says “I love you.” He also gave me a cross that he got in Cuba the summer after his senior year of high school. He bought it and told himself he would give it to the only girl he ever told “I love you.” He also gave me a dozen red roses. Lee wasn’t the only one with surprises this month, though. When we went to eat at Olive Garden one night, I gave him a note. Here’s what it said: “Lee, Wow! We’ve almost been dating for 2 years! It’s been 1 year and 10 months to be exact. I remember the ‘first time’ I met you, I thought you were so cute. Then, a couple of years later, we went on a date, just ‘you and me.’ I was very excited. We went on a few more dates and I was ‘hanging by a moment’ waiting for you to ask me out. Then, you did! ‘Everything’ has passed so fast since then. We’ve had good times and ‘broken’ times. Whatever the times may be, I’ll do ‘whatever it takes’ to continue to spend my time with you! Happy Anniversary! XOXO Megan.” Can you guess what else I had for him? LIFEHOUSE TICKET!!!! Lifehouse was coming to Dothan and I bought us tickets.


December 2008: Courtney and I sang in the living Christmas tree at FBC Troy for “God’s Promise.” This was very cool and Lee came to see it. That night, he brought a gingerbread house for us to put together. I also sang with FBC Headland for “Joyful and Triumphant.” This is also when we went to see Lifehouse. Courtney and I also hosted a New Year’s Eve bonfire and Lee and Ben put on a spectacular fireworks show.


January 2009: We’ve been dating 2 years. I started making Lee a scrapbook of our dating experiences. Lee taught me to shoot and I’m pretty good.


February 2009: Lee surprised me by coming to Troy on my birthday and bringing me a balloon and cupcakes! I surprised him by taking him to Landmark Park for Astronomy night. We learned about stars, looked at the stars, and took a hayride.


March 2009: I had a special surprise. This surprise was supposed to take place in February for Lee’s birthday, but due to rain, it had to be moved. I drove him to Panama City where we ate, went to the Ripley’s museum, and hung out on the beach. Then, I blindfolded him and drove him to a place for a HELICOPTER TOUR! We rode a helicopter at sunset down the beach. Then, we ate at Captain Anderson’s.


April 2009: Lee surprises me with a trip to Callaway Gardens to visit and see a concert by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.


May 2009: My brother graduated, so there was the traditional dinner at LaBamba’s, Senior service at church, Baccalaureate service, and graduation.


Summer 2009: We went to Wild Adventures for a day. We also saw our first 3D movie together-UP! Lee had to go to the ER again for stomach issues. This time I took mom with me to help. Mother’s are good at that kind of stuff.


Dating Lee was so much fun. We were always going somewhere, seeing some movie, eating at some restaurant, hanging out and having a good time. We both tried hard to have a few special surprises for each other. The biggest surprise is yet to come, though.

To be continued…

Our Love Story: Part 2

I awoke on January 1, 2007, feeling refreshed. I felt like a great burden had been lifted from my shoulders. The night before I had handed over my relationship issues to the Lord. I told Him that I was tired of dealing with it on my own. I gave it over into His capable hands.

Later that day, I made plans to ride with Jessica (who is my cousin and friend) and her boyfriend to Dawns and Daniel’s apartment in Graceville. (Reminder: Dawn had invited me over for supper. She and Daniel are both Headland graduates and friends of mine. They are both also students at the Baptist College of Florida at this time.) I met up with Jessica and we headed down to Graceville. Graceville is about 45 minutes from Headland.

We get to Dawn’s apartment and our friend and fellow Headland graduate Justin is there. Also there are some couple friends of Dawn and Daniel’s that we didn’t know. Sitting in a lawn chair in their living room, though, is Lee Hall. Yes, the extremely cute friend and ex-roommate of Daniel’s. How did I already know who this was?

To answer this question, we must back up three years. So, about three years earlier, Daniel and another Headland graduate and friend, Ben were new students at BCF. Lee was also a new student there. The three of them became friends. For Daniel’s birthday in 2004, he brought some of his new BCF friends to Dothan to meet up with some of his Headland friends for dinner. After dinner, everyone went to Ben’s house to hang out. Unfortunately, I was unable to go out to dinner because of a prior obligation at church. After they finished dinner and I finished up at church, my friend, Andrea came by to pick me up so that we could go to Ben’s house. I remember discussing how dinner was and asking her about Ben and Daniel’s new friends. I don’t remember the exact words that were exchanged, but I remember her telling me about their hot friend, Lee. When we got to Ben’s house, I was equally impressed with their hot new friend. I remember my friends and I all enjoying his presence. After that night, I never saw him again until Dawn and Daniel’s wedding in the summer of 2006. Now, let me insert this-even though we’d seen each other these two times and probably had been introduced, I figured he hardly knew I was alive. My thoughts were- why would a hot college guy like that pay me, a high schooler, any attention?

Now that you have that history, let’s return to Dawn and Daniel’s apartment on January 1, 2007. We had a lovely steak and baked potato dinner. Well, I had a lovely hamburger dinner because I don’t eat steak. After dinner, their couple friends had to leave. The rest of us decided to stay for a movie. Now, Daniel and Dawn had one of those large wrap around sectional sofas. Daniel and Dawn sat in the middle-in the recliner chair part. Jessica and her boyfriend sat on the loveseat part. That left the three singles-Lee, Justin, and myself-to sit on the couch part. I want to think I started out sitting next to Justin and ended up sitting next to Lee-due to Justin taking a bathroom break and Lee jumping in his spot. I also remember Lee sitting very close to me and blaming it on not wanting to be too close to Justin. After the movie, we all headed back to our respective homes.

In the next day or so, I had lunch with Andrea (yes-the same Andrea from 3 years earlier). We were sitting in O’Charley’s and I was recounting our dinner with the Clements’ (Daniel and Dawn). Because she is one of my best friends, I couldn’t leave out the part about Lee being there and about Lee sitting very close to me during the movie. I was sure to add that I was probably reading too much into it and it probably meant nothing.

One night, I was on Facebook. Facebook was fairly new to me at this time so I thought it was necessary to be friends with everyone I had ever met. I decided to search for Lee and become his friend. I found him and sent him a friend request. The next time I got on, he had accepted my friend request and had sent me a message! He said it was nice to see me the other night and he would love to hang out sometime. He also gave me his phone number. Being the way I am, I don’t call boys-I want them to call me! So, I message him back saying that I had fun too and giving him my number. Some time later he called me and I missed the call. I returned his call and we talked for HOURS! One of the first things he said to me was that he liked my southern accent.

We made plans to have dinner one night at Chili’s. I was so nervous about having dinner with him. So, to help my nerves, I invited two friends, Andrea and Ashley, to come along with me. This helped break the ice and made me a little more comfortable. After dinner, though, Lee and I went to the movies. I wasn’t the only one who was nervous. Lee hit the curb trying to park his truck at the movies. The next day, we hung out again. We went and saw another movie.

Ashley, Andrea, and I were hosting a BYOD (bring your own dinner) party and movie for our friends in Troy. I invited Lee and he made the hour and a half drive to Troy to hang out with us. The next time I was home visiting my family for the weekend, I made a trip down to Graceville to hang out with him at his apartment. He surprised me with flowers and asked me to be his girlfriend!

No other relationship I’d ever been in had felt so right from the first time we hung out. On our first date, my mind was racing with thoughts of this could be your last first date and this could be your last boyfriend. I had never felt like this before. I can’t even explain it.

To be continued…